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What tunes are powering your workout? From rap and hip-hop, to hard rock and dance, each genre has the potential to take you to that higher level, push you through the last rep, or get you to the next mile marker. Music can psych you up before exercise even starts. It can make training feel less difficult. It’s an ergogenic aid that you can adjust for immediate results. Here we’ll take a look at some of the benefits and research...
Having an authentic connection with your participants is absolutely essential when it comes to delivering a great group fitness class experience. So how do you do this? One way is through motivation and inspiration. What makes group fitness so unique is that it fosters an environment that brings people together with different fitness levels, goals and purposes. It’s essential for group fitness instructors to have strong skill sets to connect with such a variety of individuals in a way that resonates with...
We all have that one favorite song that comes through our headphones and gets us AMPED UP to continue our workout. Particularly when a workout is strenuous, it’s common to have low motivation. Sometimes hearing a fast-paced tune is all we need to push through! Whether it is a classic like Queen, or hardcore rap like DMX, it’s up to you to discover what music motivates you! Music may not always seem extremely important, but scientific research has proven its positive...
If you're a fitness instructor, then you know that music can make or break your class. There are lots of benefits to selecting the right songs for your classes, including getting your students excited and keeping them motivated. Here are four reasons why fitness instructors should partner with Instructor Music for their fitness classes. 1. ) Original Artist Mixes One of the things that makes Instructor Music different from other music services is that all of our music tracks are original mixes....
The end of each calendar year gives us the opportunity for a fun thought-experiment: predicting what the future of fitness holds and making educated guesses about the various ways we might be exercising and moving differently in the coming year. The following list, though not exhaustive, was compiled with input from individuals who work for a variety of fitness industry companies, including equipment manufacturers, certification organizations and health clubs. Though not exhaustive, this list offers an overview of the ways...
Last year’s top trend, online training, fell to No. 9 on the list while Exercise Is Medicine and fitness programs for older adults fell off the list this year. (Photo by dragana991/Getty Images.) Wearable technology is the top fitness trend for 2022, according to a survey of 4,500 health and fitness professionals by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). “Tech advances have made it easy for users to collect important health metrics and work with fitness professionals and health care providers to develop...
One of the best things about being a group fitness instructor is you get to choose the type of music you play during your classes. Want your clients to warm up? Pick a beat that gets their blood pumping. Ready for a good cool down? Use background music that is slow and relaxing. That said, you can’t just download music from a website or CD and use it. The music industry does have certain protections related to copyright infringement. What does this mean...
Have you ever noticed how music motivates and inspires you to work out? Do you get excited when your favorite song plays during your group exercise class? Do you find that yoga music promotes relaxation? These are just a few of the ways that music affects exercise and your motivation to move. A growing body of research suggests that music directly affects exercise motivation. Here are four ways music affects movement. Music reduces feelings of fatigue. Research indicates that music keeps us from focusing on...
What it used to be: Lotte Berk Method. Originally developed by the once famous European dancer Lotte Berk in the late '40s, the Lotte Berk Method is a unique fusion of ballet, Pilates, and sculpting. The technique made its way to the U.S. in 1971, when an American named Lydia Bach opened the first studio in Manhattan's upper east side. After studying with Berk in London for a year, Bach was so taken by the method's unique results that she purchased the rights to...
What it used to be: Jazzercise. Most traditional dance classes, with their stop-and-start choreography and necessary skill mastery, are just too complicated for the average exerciser to follow along and get a good workout. But that changed in 1969, when Jazzercise founder Judi Sheppard Missett introduced her easy-to-follow fusion of aerobics and dance moves that led to the 80s workouts (and outfits!) you're thinking of. And while Jazzercise is still a popular way to sweat, the same party-like atmosphere is what...
What it used to be: Hi/Lo Aerobics. A popular workout in the 70s that really hits its stride as a favorite 80s workout, hi/lo (which stands for high- and low-impact) aerobics classes taught choreographed, dance-like routines with moves like grapevines, step touches, and knee lifts. "When high-impact aerobics hit the scene, it fulfilled the primary goal of fitness in those decades: to be aerobically fit," says Michele Olson, Ph.D., professor of exercise physiology at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama. Fast forward and...
Stretching is one of the best ways to keep your muscles healthy. Stretching regularly will help maintain your muscle strength and increase your flexibility. The more flexible you are, the better it is for your joints. Keeping muscles and joints in top condition helps with your day-to-day range of motion and can help guard against injury. As beneficial as stretching is, there has been a shift in exercise theory regarding how you should stretch and when. For years, experts recommended stretching...
Looking to re-up your motivation, try one of these best workout apps for a new program or guide to follow. Ready to sweat? Just hit play on these workout songs. Harder, Better, Fatster, Stronger — Daft PunkGo Girl — Ciara and T-PainFeelin' Myself — will.i.am, Miley Cyrus, French Montana, Wiz Khalifa and MustardHigher Ground — TNGHT, Hudson Mohawke and LuniceBurn — Ellie GouldingDemons — Imagine DragonsTKO — Justin TimberlakeThe Monster — Eminem and RihannaR.I.P. — Rita Ora and Tinie Tempah
Rock on with your spandex on with these old school and new school rock workout songs. These timeless exercise options, including 80s workouts and 90s dance trends, are still effective and fun. Eye of the Tiger — SurvivorWe Will Rock You (Remastered) — QueenSmells Like Teen Spirit — NirvanaWelcome To The Jungle — Guns N' RosesEnter Sandman — MetallicaJump (2015 Remaster) — Van Halen(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction (Mono Version) — The Rolling StonesClocks — Coldplay
Yes, you do need to cool down. Cue up these slow jams and prepare to zen out with this curated exercise music playlist. Latch (DJ Premier Remix) — Disclosure, Sam Smith and DJ PremierChandelier — SiaThe Alchemist — MadelineRude — MAGIC!This Is What It Feels Like — BANKSPoetic Justice — Kendrick Lamar and DrakeGhost — HalseySafe With Me — Sam SmithEverything Breaks — Sophia Black
Music is a huge component of group exercise. Many members come back to classes just for an instructor’s music alone. Have you ever taken a class where you just didn’t jive with the music, genre, tempo, or cueing to the beat? It’s like nails on a chalkboard, and it can be the difference between full classes and sparse ones. The Importance of Music in Your Exercise Class Researchers Costas Karageorghis, Ph.D., from London’s Brunel University School of Sport and Education and Carl Foster, Ph.D.,...
From pop to rap to rock, this exercise music will power you through even the longest long run. You Shook Me All Night Long — AC/DC JAMTake Over Control — Afrojack (feat. Eva Simons)Addicted to You (David Guetta Remix) — AviciiWake Me Up — Avicii212 — Azealia Banks, Lazy JayHarlem Shake — BaauerBrass Monkey — Beastie BoysDrunk in Love — Beyonce and JAY ZLocked Out of Heaven (Sultan + Shepard Remix) — Bruno MarsTreasure — Bruno MarsPut Your Hands Where My Eyes...
